Goloid Metric Dollar Patterns -"Counterfeiters' Delight"
1879 Goloid Dollar J-1619 Copper Rev: Open Wreath "ONE DOLLAR"

Obverse:

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Reverse:

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Coin Details

Origin/Country: United States
Design Description: PATTERNS & TRIAL COINS 1874-DATE,WITH POLLOCK & RB NUMBERS
Item Description: S$1 1879 J-1619
Full Grade: NGC PF 65 BN
Owner: mania

Owner Comments:


1879 $1 Metric Dollar
Judd-1619, Pollock-1814
Rarity: Low R.7, PR65 BN.

NGC Coin Explorer Plate Coin for J1619

Struck in copper with a reeded edge.

Obverse: William Barber chose a head of Liberty facing left as the central obverse motif, with a coronet inscribed LIBERTY, the hair tied in a bun at the back and flowing down to the shoulder. E PLURIBUS UNUM appears at the top border with the date below, seven stars left, and six stars right.

Reverse: The legend and denomination are placed at the top and bottom border with a wreath of corn and cotton. A cartouche contains the motto DEO EST GLORIA and a circle inside the wreath frames the four line inscription 895.8 S. / 4.2--G. / 100--C. / 25 GRAMS. - The goloid alloy composition (Silver Gold Copper)

Comment: A meticulously struck Gem that is richly toned in orange, sea-green, and rose-violet colors. A pair of minor handling marks on Liberty's neck are all that precludes a higher grade.

Commentary of interest below was extracted from The Stacks Nov 2007 Caterlog for lot 1180 ….

”The goloid metric alloy was debated in Congress, and much can be found concerning it in the annals of that body. Briefly, the idea was that by adding equal value (but not weight) of silver and gold, a coin would be created that would be politically ideal. This was a time when "Silverites," as they were called, were bemoaning the collapsed state of the market for that metal, with distress in Nevada and other silver-mining states, at the same time new strikes were being found. There was no longer a market for coinage silver in Europe, as that standard had been dropped. Coinage use for silver metal was negligible except for the boondoggle of the Bland-Allison Act of February 28, 1878, which mandated that Uncle Sam make Morgan silver dollars. Still, those who preferred "real money," or gold, felt that Morgan dollars were a waste of Federal funds, and that the only acceptable standard should be gold. This went into the forefront as the most burning political issue of the next decade, extending all the way to 1896, when it was the issue in the presidential campaign that year. Goloid metal of gold and silver was predominantly silver by weight, to which mix 10% copper was added as an alloy for strength. The result was not distinguishable from silver except by elemental analysis. The concept was rejected when the Treasury Department protested that neither the public nor anyone else, except for those with a scientific inclination, would be able to tell whether a dollar was made in goloid alloy or in regular silver alloy. This would be a boon for counterfeiters, who would need to use less metal overall.”



Provenance/Appearances:
Private Sale Jan 2022: Prior
- Heritage June 2008 West Palm Beach, FL (Summer FUN) / Lot #1758 (Passed)
- Stacks Nov 2007 Sale (The Amherst & Waccabuc Collections) / Lot #1180 (Passed) From the Cat Daddy Collection;
- Heritage Feb 2005 Long Beach (Mike Jacobson Collection.) / Lot #9870
- Heritage Mar 2004 Portland, OR Signature Sale / Lot #6671
- Heritage May 2004 Exclusively Internet Auction / Lot #13778
- Heritage April 2004 / Lot #12367 (passed)
- RARCOA Aug 1980 ( Auction 80) Lot # 1858 ($2700)

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